Apparatus for desiccating eggs.



I. m. HUSSEY,

APPARATUS FOR DESICUATING EGGS APPLICATION FILED AUG.31, 1907.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

BSHEETS-SHEET 1.

- citizen of the United States, and a resident UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MQHUSSEY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING EGGS.

Speciiication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Original application filed March 8, 1907, Seria'J No. 361,225. Divided and this application filed 'August 31,

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. HU'ssEY, a

of Cambridge. in the county of Middlesex and State of'Mass-achusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Desiccating Eggs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to apparatus for desiccating eggs; this application, wherein the same is set forth, b8111 a d1'v1s1on of my co-pending application, her. No. 361,225, filed March 8, 1907, and being directed to the means for controllin the belt and for controlling the supply of liquid egg to the tray or receptacle, from which, it is supplied to the belt. 5 p i In order that the principlesof the invention may be fully understood, 1 have illustrated one type or'embodiment of the apparatus in the accompanying drawings, 1n which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for desiccating eggs embodying my invention, a portion' thereof intermediate the ends being broken away; Fig. 2 is anend elevation of a portion of the belt at the point where itreceives a film thereon, and

the associated parts; Fig-3 is a vertical transverse section taken through the belt and'its casing, intermediate the supporting drums; Fig. 4 is aview partly in horizontal longitudinal section and partly in plan, of a form of side guide for the belt; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the receptacle whereto egg is delivered and from which it is taken in a film by the belt, and valved means to control such delivery; Fig. (3 1s a diagrammatic View representing an electric circuit completed when the supply of egg in. the receptacle becomes excessive or falls below a desired minimum; Fig. 7 is a detail in side elevation, represent ng means for ad ust1ng the belt; Fig. 8 is a detail in side elevation of a portion of the valve operating mechanism;

and Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the liquid egg receptacle, the belt and one of the supporting drums therefor.

In that specific embodlment of my invention herein disclosed I em 10y a traveling -belt whereto the egg isapp ied. Incertain combinations or expressions 'of the inven tion, not to be limited to-the employ-J Serial No. 390,857.

'ment of a belt, as will appear in the claims.

face, any por ion whereof is not returned for a subsequent receipt of egg until the film already deposited thereon. has had full v opportunity to become, dried.v

disposed wit the drying .r'uns'thereof substantiallyhorizontal. By substantially hori- The belt .plreferably employed byme is zontal, I mean such-a disposition thereof that the egg film received thereonwill not run and become uneven upon'such portions.

lVhile the belt may be truly horizontal, I

preferably incline the same upward at a preferably comparatively slight angle because of the manner in which, in the present embodiment of the invention, I apply the egg to the belt. That is to say, since herein I apply. the egg at or near one extremity of the under run of'the belt, I incline thebelt properly to apply the egg thereto and properly to confine the eggsupply, but I am in no wise to be restricted to such" manner of applying the egg, save as expressly. stated, nor to the point at which the same is applied. Therefore, when I use the term substantially horizontal or the likein the claims, I contemplate such variations thereof or departures therefrom as 1nay permit the accomplishment of the purpose heretofore stated, namely, the procuring of an egg film .of substantially uniform thickness throughoutand which will not run and become uneven upon the drying -portions or runs of the belt. p

-Referring to that single embodiment of the invention disclosed inv the accompanying drawings and referring more particularly to-Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the belt whereto the egg film is applied is indicated at'l, it' being suitably guided about' supporting drums 2- and 3. (Fig, 1 ),-one of said drums and herein .the drum 'S-T'being positively driven in'any suitable manner as by a band 4 passing about pulley 5:;(Fig. 1) to which ower is applied in a'manner to be more fully described While Imay so'locate and arrange the belt 1' as that one or bot runs thereof are truly horizontalupreferab y the belt is inclined upward from the drum 2, though I am in no wise to be limited to the precise arrangement described or shown. Such upward inclination of the belt is mainly provided to permit the proper application to the belt of the egg film as will be more clearly understood by reference to Fig. v9 wherein 6 indicates an egg receiving tray of any suitable form and structure adapted to receive a sutiicient supply of egg. Herein the uppersurface A of said tray is shown as concaved or recessed as at 7 thus conforn'iing substantially to the surface of the drum 2, which preferably is located at a very slight distance above the recessed portion 7 of ,the tray. By the described upward trend of the belt I am enabled to apply the egg to the under run of the belt, while at the same time confining the egg to such recessed portion of the tray. 1 am, however, not to be limited to the application of the egg to the belt at the under run thereof, though I find such arrangement preferable. If desired, the upper run of the belt may be maintained horizontal and the lower run inclined upward toward the drum 3. This could be readily done by making the drum 2 larger than drum 3 and locating the drum so that the upper surfaces are in the same plane. In this manner, egg

could be readily applied to the lower surface of the belt beneath the drum 2. As clearly shown in Fig. 9, the egg is supplied directly to the surface of the belt.

It will be observed that herein the egg. is

applied to a continuous or uninterrupted surface from which it may be readily removed at the proper time as will be more fully described.

Viewing Fig. 9, it will be observed that the egg is applied in a film to the belt by reason of the travel of such belt in contact with the egg, a preferably shallow supply of whlch is maintained 111 or upon the egg tray 6. The egg supply should receive a. mini-' mum extent of exposure to the air in order to prevent souring thereof. Hence the tray is preferably made shallow to maintain the least possible amount of egg therein. The exposed surface of egg should likewise be reduced to the minimum. Moreover, it is highly desirable that the length of time of exposure of the film upon the belt to the egg supply, thereby to receive second film thereon, should be reduced to a minimum,

because the exposure of a dried film to the run.

feet in width gives excellent results.

point as possible. By the described construction a minimum amount of egg will be taken up by the belt and the egg will be (-onfined strictly to the surface of the belt, means being provided, as will be described, to prevent contact of the egg witheither the edges. of the belt or any portion of the drum 2.- The belt 1 travels herein in the directionof the arrow upon Fig. 9. That portion of the belt which is passing about the lower portion of the drum 2 may be considered as the egg receiving portion of the belt. That portion of the belt which is passing about the side or lateral portion of the drum as at 8 in Figs. 1 and 2 may be considered as the draining portion of .the belt, inasmuch as if the belt does receive an excess quantity of material it isquickly drained therefrom the belt passes from the lower to the upper Draining occurs only when the belt runs too fast and should notbe permitted, When properly operated, the belt receives only a film of the proper thickness. The other portions of the belt may be considered to be the drying surfaces proper of the belt.

and such surfaces should be sufficiently extensive or the movement ofthe belt should be properly regulated to permit drying of the egg thereon before the return of any portion of the belt to the drum 2. i

' While I am in no wise to be limited to any dimensions, I may state that inpractice I have found a belt that is eighty feet from the centers of the drums 2 and and four It is my purpose herein to apply the-egg to the belt asa film of the least possible thickness. In practice, when merely the first film is'applied thereto the belt has the appearance of being merely wet, without appreciable egg color. The more nearly such tilm approximates, for example, the thickness of a soap bubble film the better results are obtained.

An egg contains about 72% of water which, in the presentv preparation of my food product, is "nearly all removed therefrom. This is accomplished most efficiently by the application of heat and this is specifically effected by the drying action of a current of heated air, that passes in contact with the egg in the condition of a film. T

The belt 1 may be of any suitable material, though in practice I find zinc preferable, inasmuch as it has no deleterious action l they contact therewith upon the nonegg r forined to clear 'a portion of the drum. If'

ceiving'surface. It is desirable to en port the lower run of the belt between the lllIIlS 2 and 3. I accomplish this effectively b providing cleared tracks extending longitudinal'lyof the belt, in which tracks run the guide disks 10 (see Figs. 1 and 3),which lmay be laterally adjusted in any suitable 1 manner as by means of 'a-slot and screw construction. Any desired number of such disks may be provided bothdateral'ly" and lon'gitud-inally of'the belt,'herei n three disks being provided to support a belt from edge to edge thereof. Any suitable means may,beg provided to furnish the cleared tracks upon. the belt. Herein for the p 'rpose, I employ a I '11 (Fig. 9) each series of clearing devices constructed as a lever having a d riding portion 12 serving to fulcrum the same upon the upper-surface of the tray 6, the forward end of the.de vice 11 beingsuitably mechanism may, however, be employed for the purpose.

If .desirechthe 'belt may be strengthened or reinforced in any suitable manner.

It is desirable that'the belt be so supported that. it may run truly and" evenly upon the drums 2 and 3 without .lateral' creep. Moreover the belt should be so supported that all slack therein may beftaken out-,which may, vary from time to time'in accordance with the temperature. When the egg is removed from the belt, and preferably by a scraper as will be described, strain is thereby applied to the belt, thus giving a tendency to unevenness in the running thereof. To provide against these several [con-v tingencies', I have herein mounted the bearings 14 of the drum 2 upon a movable frame 15 p refera'bly provided. with grooved rollers 16 (see Figs. 1 and 2) received upon suitable tracks upon the frame Work .17, whereby the frame 15 may be moved toward and fromxthe drum 3- as found desirable. In order that slack may be taken up automatically, I herein mount upon theframe work 17 a plurality of hell crank levers 18 from one arm whereof are suspended weights 19, the 0th r arm 20 being connected to the frame 15. ,The 1 m-ay, of course, be maintained taut "in desired manner, 1

If the belt lbe true, it :is'desirableaccurately to 7 place vthe. axis of the drum 2 in parallelism with that of-ithe drum-3; I If, on the other hand, the} beltbe-not' true, this bei'ngapt' to-oo'curfiii --long. belt-,- then it is necessary tol 'lacel -th'eaxis of. the drum2" at aslight ang 'e to that of the drum 3,: inasmuch; as such ina tilliay of the. belt tends :to pro pelt duce a sidewise creep of the belt. This may be corrected by moving'one end of the drum fartherfrom or nearer to the. drum 3 while maintainingthe'other end of the drum fixed.

In order'aecurately to accom lishthis result,

I'haveforined the arm 20- e each bellcrank 18 as a threaded bolt adapted to engage apor- 'tion of the frame 15 as a casting 21 thereon (see Fig. 7), anut 22 1being provided betweensaid castingtandthe ame 15. In this manner an extremely delicate adjustment of the-drum 2 may be -accomplished. effectively preventing sidewise or lateral creep of the belt 1.

Preferably each ed e of. the'beltis suitably guided between t e drums 2 and 3. If desired, fixed guides maybe provided for the greater portion ofthe distance between these drums, :but preferably for certain por- .tions' of such edges, and herein for that portion of each run that is a'pproachingone of said drums, I provide an adjustable guide herein represented in Fi s; 3 and 4. That is to say, theupper run of the belt upon each side thereof is preferablyprovided with adjustable guides as it approaches the drum 3 and'the'lower'run of the belt is'so provided with guides as it approaches the drum 2.

' Referring to F igsl 3 and 4:," 23 indicates a strip of any suitable material provided with a longitudinal groove '24 to receive therein the adjacent edge oftheblt, such groove preferably being enlarged at the base there'- of to receive a strip of plate glass or the like Ito contact with the belt. withoutundue friction.. The guidemaybe adjusted" laterally in any suitablemanner as by set screw 25 mounted upon any suitable part of the case ing as the posts 26. In this manner the belts may be adjusted laterally or held to their true course. v

Viewing Fig. 1, a suitable supply :1.

chargeof egg is contained in the tank 27 wherein it is maintained from exposure. to the air,;and isat a temperature at or, near the freezing point, being maintained then-eat by proper insulating material in or- 1])0]! the receptacle, which may be hairelt. From thls tank the egg is deliveredlby a flexible or other pipe or tubing 28' to the concaved or recessed portion of theupper.

surface ofthe egg vtray 6. I i

In Figs. 5 and 9 -I have indicated'in full lines at 28 near the opposite edges of .the eggtray- 6 the points at which the two egg supplying pipes 28 discharge the egg batter upon the conca-ved upper surface of the tray.

.By introducing the egg batter'. at such points, there results amore'uniform drying of the film or layer. as received upon the belt. :Theegg receiving portion of the tray is preferably of'such-relativ'el'y short length in the direction of travelofthe belt that thefsurface -oftheeggexposed to the air re uced-to $.3 and e. e h of exposure of any portion of dried film upon the belt to the egg in the tray is reduced to a minimum. 1 have found in practice that if a dried film be retained in the .supply for more than a minimum exposure,

maintain this supply at a fixed level. While this may be accomplished in various ways 1 here n provide (F gs. 1, 5 and a float valve 2) of cork or other suitable-material.

. The valve 29 is located in a recess or well to the valve opening magnet 4.9.

29" (see Fig. 5) communicating with the concaved portion 7 of the upper surface of the tray and extending beyond the zone of contact of the belt with the egg upon the surface A. Preferably the valve is .provlded with ah arm 30 extending rearwardly therefrom and 'suitablypivoted at 31 upon the frame work, said arm 30 being of suitable conducting material and adapted to contact with terminals and 33 of an electric circuit. whereby the valve is controlled, being either opened to admit a further supply or closed to cut off a supply of egg.

. Any desired form of valve may be employed for. the purpose. In Figs. 1, (5 and 8 is indicated a valve stem 34: normally held in valve closing position by means of springs 35 connected at one end to the framing and at the other to a plate 36 formed as an armature of a magnet '37 forming a portion of the circuit. referred to. whereby upon the closing of the circuit the valve may be opened to'admit a further supply of egg to the tray 6. curs when contact is made by the float arm 30 with the contact 32.

\Vhile any desired apparatus may be employed, rendered operative by the movement of the float 29, herein the electric circuit employed for that purpose comprises line wires 38 and 39, from the first of which a wire 40 leads to the arm 30 of the float. Leading from said wire 40 is a wire ail connected with magnet 42 adapted when energized to attract armature 43, to which is attached the valve stem 3i of the valve controlling the tlow of egg to the tray. Leading from said magnet is a wire 44: connected with a bridge piece 45, and from a companion bridgepiece 46 extends a wire ii'leading through wlre 4L8 Likewise leading from said wire 47 is a wire 50 connected with the valve closing magnet 51. Pivotallv mounted between said magnets 49 and 51 is an armature 52 having abridge piece 53, so that when said armature is attracted by themagnet 49 the bridge piece Such opening of the valve oc-i places the bridge pieces 45 and id-in communication, thereby energizing the magnet 42 and attracting the armature it? to open the valve. Leading from the contact 32 is a wire 54.- leading to the magnet 49, and leading from the lower contact is a wire 55 connected with the magnet 51. The wires ii, 4-8 and 50 are connected by the wire 56 with the line wire 39. 57 indicates a con denser in communication with the line wire 38 through the wire 58 and with the wires 5% and throughthe wires .39 and 60.

By the described circuit if the level of the egg in the tray falls below an established minii'num, anelec tric circuit'is established through the contact whereby the magnet 49 is energized, thus attracting the armature 52,so that by means of the bridge piece 53 carried thereby the magnet t2 energized to attract the-armature43 and open the valve that controls the flow of egg to the tray. As additional egg is received by the egg tray and. the level thereof rises therein,

the arm 30 of the float valve is withdrawn from the contact and the circuit is interrupted. Nevertheless the armature remains in contact with the magnet 49, so that the magnet 42 continues to be energized until the float 29 rises so high that a circuit is established by the arm .30 of the float through the contact 33, in which event the magnet 51 is energized to withdraw the armature 52 from the deenergized magnet 49, whereby the magnet 42 is de'e'nergized. In this position of the parts, the valve is closed by the springs 35 (Fig. 8). I preferably provide the condenser 5'7, which is in circuit when a circuit is established through either contact or 33, to minimize the sparking at 'said' contacts as the arm 30 separates from either of them, thus to minimize danger of fire at such points as well as to prevent injurious action upon said contacts.

Preferably the tray (3 is mounted so as to be vertically adjustable. that is, toward and from the drum 2 and belt 1 thereof. \Vhile this may be accomplished in any desired manner, herein the tray is supported upon a frame 61 having thereon shouldered supporting bars (32, upon which shouldered portions the tray 6 is adapted to rest. The frame (31 may be raised and lowered in any suitable manners, and herein by means of four threaded shafts (33 (Fig. 2-) received in threaded portions of the frame 61. such shafts passing through bearings ina frame (Set that is suspended from the frame 15 by means of hangers 65, shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

Each shaft 63' is provided at its lower end with a beveled gear 66 meshing with a similar gear 67 upon shafts G8 and 69, preferably connected by sprocket gearing 70 to turn in By reason of the fact that the frame 64: is

' manner at 72 (see Fig. 1).

supported from the frame 15. carrying, the

drum 2, said tray and drum move in unison,-

thus maintaining a fixed relation.

Any suitable means may beprovided to prevent the escape of the eggsupply from the tray 6 at either edge of the belt 1. Herem'for-the purpose I have employed dams 72 such ,damsconforming to the contour of'the belt 1- upon'the drum 2 and affording a mini- -mum a ount of friction to the movement of the belgby reasonof its described nature. In this manner, contact of the egg film with the edges of the belt' or with the drum-2 is efi'ectua ly prevented. .In or er suitably and rapidly to dry the egg film .upon the belt 1, I preferably-employ a current of heated air passing-in contact therewith, and introduced in \Vhile airmaybe heated to any suitable temperature to [cry the egg film upon the belt 1. preferably most desirably 'at about 122 F. I am enabledto bring air at this temperature in contact with the egg film without injuring the same by reason 0 the fact that the'film is so thinly disposed upon the belt 1 that the moisture is quickly dried therefrom, the solids stated.

of the egg remaining at a relativelylow temperature throughout the process as has been Thus. the undesirable combination of moisture in the egg in the presence of heated air is not long maintained.

'contactwiththe ,egg film upon the belt 1,

Although herein the heated air, while in travels in the direction of movement of said belt and hence is admitted directly to the upper run of the belt,"I may, if desired, admit the heated air to travel in contact with the egg film upon the belt 1, in any desired directionor manner.

I have found it'preferable to feed the air in the direction of travel of the belt 1 be--' cause the highly heated ,air acts at once upon l the film of egg as received from the egg tray, the air gradually dropping in temperature ceive a second film upon the non-viscid sur-.

face thereof.

*-- As pre I from the pulley 5, said pulley .bein'g rotated any suitable.

maintain it at a tempera- '7 ture ranging from 120 F. to'130 F. and

As shown in Figs. land 3 the casingi73 of suitably supported upon the frame wet the apparatus, provides a passage wherein the egg belt 1 travels throughout its course excepting where in contact with Ithe drum 2 and where the egg is removed fromthe belt, and likewise provides a passage for the heated air which may be discharged at the I end thereof through the passage 74- (see' i Fig. 1). I (see Fig. 2), preferably composed of highly flexible rubber tubing which rests upon the tray 6 .ator near opposite edges of the belt beyond the confines of the egg film thereon,

Preferably I einploy a scraper 7 5 which normally is mai'ntamed out of contactwith the belt 1, in order-that the desired number of films maybe superposed thereon. Prefer ably, and: as indicated in Fig. 3, the casing 73 is provided-with removable panels 76,

whereby access may be conveniently afforded to the adjustable lateral guides for tliebelt ,or any other desired portion thereof.

iously stated the belt 1 is driven by a worm wheel '77 co-axial therewith. Meshing with said worm wheel is a worm 78 upona shaft 7 9 suitably mounted in the' frame work and having thereon a pulley 80 about-Which passes a belt- 81 driven by pulley 82 upon a shaft 83. The shaft 83 may be driven at any desired speed from pulley 84, any suitable speed changing mechanism, such as that indicated, being employed. Pulley 84 may be driven byan electric motor,'preferably a separate motor and air'cir culat-ing system being employed for each machine, so that each is complete in itself.

It at times becomes desirable to change the -bodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although I have employed peed of belt 1, becauseof changes in the, humidity of the air or in the density of the specific terms, they are used in a descriptive and generic sense-and not for purposes of" limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

1. Apparatus for desiccating eggs comprising 'in combination, belt supporting drums,- an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon, an egg batter receptacle supported-in proximity to said belt, whereby egg batter may be conveyed to' the latter, and common means for conjoi'ntly moving one of said supporting drums and said egg batter receptacle, thereby to tighten J the belt and at the same time to maintani the relative position of "said drum and said receptacle. v v

2. Apparatus for desiccat-ing eggs comprising in combination belt supporting drunis, one at leastof which is bodily movable, an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon, the upper run of said belt being maintained in a flame sufliciently approaching the horizontal to permit the drying of the egg batter upon the belt in an even layer, an egg batter receptacle connected to said bodily movable drum so as to move therewith, endpositioned in proximity to said belt so that egg batter may be conveyed thereto, and means bodily to move said drum to tighten thebelt.

3. Apparatus for desiceating eggs com;

prising in combination belt supporting drums, one at least of which is bodily mov-.

able, anegg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon, an egg batter receptacle connected to said bodily movable drum so as to move therewith, and positionedin proximity to said belt so that egg'batter may be conveyed thereto, and automatically acting means bodil'y'tomove said drum to tighten the belt. l

a. Apparatus for desiccating eggs comprising in combination belt supporting drums, one at least of vvhich is bodily movable, an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon and having a substantially horizontal egg drying run, an egg batter receptacle so connected to said bodily movable drum as to move therewith, and

positioned in proximity to said belt, so that egg batter may be conveyed to the latter,

' run of said belt being maintained in a plane sufiicient-ly approaching the horizontal to permit the drying of the egg batter upon the belt in an even la er aneg batter receptacle located adjacent the under run of said belt, so that said run of the belt may receive egg batter from said receptacle, means connecting said bodily movable drum and said receptacle for movement in unison,

and means to move said drum to tighten the belt.

(3. Apparatus for desiccating eggs comprising in combination belt supporting drums, a movable support for one of said drums, an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported upon said drums, an egg batter-receptacle attached to said movable support, and means to move said support to tighten the belt.

7. l' rpparatus for desiccating eggs comprising in combination belt supporting drums, a mo *able support for one of said drums, an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported upon said drums, the upper run of said belt being maintained in a plane su'liiciently approaching the horizontal to perm-it the drying of the egg batter upon the belt in an even lly'er, an batter receptacle depending from said movable support and positioned in proximity to the prising in combination, belt supporting drums, an egg batter. receiving and conveying belt supported thereon, an eggbatter re ceptacle supported in proximity to said belt 'ivhereby egg batter may be conveyed tothe latter, means supported by said receptacle to maintain a regulated levehof-egg batter therein, and. means bodily to move one of said belt supporting drums and said receptacle, thereby to tighten the belt without relative displacement of said receptacle.

9. Apparatus for desiccatmg comarisim in combination belt. sunortmg :1 a ll a mit the drying ofthe'egg batter upon the i belt in an even layer, a tank for an egg batter supply, an egg batter receptacle supported in proximity to said belt whereby eggbatter may be conveyed to the lr'tter, a pipe connecting said tank and receptacle, a valve controlling the flow of batter through said pipe, a valve controlling device carried by saidreceptacle, and means bodily to more one of said belt supporting drums and-said receptacle, thereby to tighten the belt without displacement of said receptacle.

10. Apparatus for desiccating cg g s com prising in combination, belt supporting drums, an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon, an egg batter 1-4-- ceptacle supported in proximity to said belt whereby batter may be conveyed to the latter, automatically acting means supported by said receptacle to maintain a uni-' form level of egg batter therein, and unannbodily to move one of said belt suppc'naing drums and said receptacle, thereby to, tighten the belt Without relative displacement of said receptacle.

11. Apparatus for desircating .l'tllllprising in combination, belt supporting drums, an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon. a tank l'or 2:11 hatter supply. an egg hatterreceptacle supported in proximity to said hrlt ivhereby egg batter may be 'on\c ed to the latter. a flexible pipe connecting said tank and re ceptaclc, and means bodily lo-move one of said belt supporting drums and said receptacle. thereby to tighten the bell \viihoul relative displacemeiu" of said receptacle.

1''). .\u apparatus for dcsic al ing eggs conlprising an egg batter receiving belt. a pair of drums for supporting the same, a frame \vhereon one of said drums is supported tor bodily movement toward and from the other drum, tracks Whereon said f ame is mounted, self-acting 'means tending normally to movesaid frame upon said tracks. away i from the other drum, thereby to maintain the belt automatically taut, and an egg batterreceiving tray supported in close proximlty tothei outer surface of said belt, so that such-surface of the belt may receive a layer of material'from said tray. a 130Anappa1atnsfor desic'cating egg'sconr pgisingan egg batter receiving belt, a pair 0 drums for supporting the same, a frame .whereon one of said-drums is supported for. f-bodily movetn'ent-toyvardand fromthe other drum, sel'f acting'means tending normally to move said frame away froni'the other drum, 'thereby to maintainthe belt automatically taut, and an egg batter receiving tray supported in close proximity to'the outer surface of said belt, so thats'uch surface of the beltmay receive a layer of material from said tray. y 1; 1 p

14. An apparatus for desiccating eggs, comprising in combination an egg batter receiving receptacle, an egg batter receiving belt located with its run or runs substantially horizontal, such belt having a substantially horizontal run thereof located adjacent said egg receiving receptacle, Whereby such run may contact \vith'the egg contents ofthe receptacle, and automatic-means to maintain said belt taut. I

1 Anappa'ratus for desiccat-ing eggs comprising in combination 'anegg-batter receiving tray and an egg batter receiving 'belt located with its under run adjacent said tray" to that said run of the belt may contact with theegg batter contents of said tray, said belt beingadapted to, receive theegg batter directly npon'the outer face thereof from said tray, the upper run of said belt being maintained. in a plane sntiiciently approaching the horizontal to permit the 'drving of the "egg upon said belt in an even layer and drums for supporting and driving said belt,

the belt supportingdrums being relatively bodily movable to take up slack in said belt, and means contacting with said belt to remove the. dried egg batter therefrom.

16. Air egg desiccating apparatus comprising iirconibination a metallic egg drying belt. a plurality of drums for supporting I saidbelt, an egg batter receiving receptacle supported in close proxiniity'to the surface of .said belt, so that such belt may contact with the contents of the receptacle and re ceive a layer of egg batter therefrom, means said belt.

19. An apparatus for desiccating eggs located in operative pi the batter in'said trayand receive a layer therefrom, meansto dry the egg batter upon the belt, and weights connected to said belt support-in means and tending a utomatically to talie up expansion in said belt and maintain the same taut.

.lSfAn apparatus for (lesiccating eggs comprisingmeans to receive an egg batter "supply, an egg batter receiving belt located v in operative proximity to said egg supply,

means to dry the egg batter upon the belt;

and automatic means to take up slaclt in comprising in combination means to rece'ive an egg batter supply,- a traveling belt- 'imity to said egg batter supply, drums to support said 'belt.

,one of said drums being-bodily movable. to. ward and from the other, a threaded bolt and nut operatively connected to each end of said movable drums, whereby either nd of said movable drum-may be moved with respect to the other drum, to prevent late ral displacement of the belt yvith relation to the egg batter supply, and automatic means to maintain said belt taut.

20. An apparatus for desiccating eggs comprising in combination an egg batterrcceiving'belt, a pair of drums for supporting the same, a frame whereon one. of said druins is supported for bodily movement toward and from the other drum, do\ vn\vardl in-' clined tracks whereon said. frame is-mounted. 1

means tending to move said frame downwardly upon .said tracks to maintain the belt.

taut and an egg receiving tray suspended from said frame in operative relation to'the belt upon-said drums. 21.. Apparatus for desicca'tnig eggs comprising in combination, belt supporting] drums, an egg batter receiving and'conveying belt supported thereon, an egg-batter receptacle supported in pro vimity to said belt, whereby the batter may be conveyed to the latter, a float valve carried by said rec'ept'acle and dependent upon the level'of egg batter therein for controlling the supply of egg batter to said receptacle and means bodily to move one of said supporting drums to tighten the belt withoutrelative displace ment of said receptacle and said belt.

22. Apparatus for desiccatii'ig eggs compr sing in combination, belt supportmg drums. an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon. an. egg batter reccptacle supported in proximity to said belt. whereby egg batter may be conveyed'tothe latter. electrical connections dependent upon the level of egg batter in said receptacle to control the flow 'o'f-batter thereto. and means bodily to move one of said supporting drinns to tighten the belt without relative displace- In ent of said receptacle and belt.

23. Apparatus for desiccatingieggs com prising in combination, b drums, an batter lt'ECtlYlllg and convc v ng belt supported thereon, an egg batter re- .eeptacle supported in proximity to said belt,

valve and said source of egg batter supply,

and means bodily to move one of said supporting drums to tighten the belt without relative displacement of said receptacle and said belt.

2i. Apparatusfor desiccating eggs com- 'prising in combination, belt supporting whereby egg batter may be conveyedto the latter, said receptacle having a well or depression, mechanism located in said well or depression to control the level of egg batter in said, receptacle, and means bodily to move one of said supporting drums to tighten the belt without relative displacement of said receptacle and said belt.

25. Apparatus for desiccating eggs com.- prising in combination belt drums, an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon, an egg batter receptacle supported in proximity to said belt, whereby batter. may be conveyed to the latter, a float valve to control the level of egg batter in said receptacle, a pair of terminals with either of which said float may make operative contact. an electrical circuit including said terminals, wlnircby when con tact is made with one terminal the supply of batter is permitted to flow to said receptacle and when contact is made with the other terminal the flow of egg batter to said receptacle is cut off, and means bodily to move one of said supporting drums to tighten the belt without relative displacement of said receptacle and said belt.

26. Apparatus for desiccating comprising in combination belt supporting drums. an egg batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon. an egg batter receptacle supported in proximity to said bclt. whereby egg batter may be conveyed to the latter, a float to control the level of batter in said receptacle, a valve con-' trolled by said float, an electrical circuit including said valve and said float and including also a pair of magnets, a single armature mounted between said magnets and cooperating with both of them, a magnet and armature cooperating with said valve, a pair of contacts in said circuit, with either of lt supporting supporting 1 1 whirl: un;

" lilisli a. circuit, ,ial ishcd through i ititrt. whereby when a care i s" one contact one of said magi thereby to open said valve, and whereby when a circuit is established with the other contact the other magnet is energized to close said valve, and means bodily to .move

one ot'said supporting drums to tighten the belt without relative displacement of said receptacle and belt.

/ 2?. Apparatus for (lesiccatin'g eggs cont prising in combination,- belt si'ipporting drums, an batter receiving and conveying belt supported thereon, an batter receptacle supported in proximity to said belt, whereby egg batter may be conveyed to the latter, a float carried by said receptacle to control the level of egg batter thercin, an electric circuit including a pair of terminals, one of which is afi'orded by said tloat. a condenser placed in circuit when contact is made to minimize sparking at said contact, and means to move. one of said supporting drums to tighten the belt without relative displace crse said belt with relation to said rccep taclc and in adhering contact. with the contents thereof, whereby a layer o'li can may be received on said belt, and edge guides for said belt to PL'BYOHt lateral displacement of said belt with rcspect to said receptacle.

29. An apparatus for (lCSlCTiltlllg comprising in con'ibination means to receive an egg batter supply, an egg batter receiving belt in ope ative proximity thereto and latcral. guides for the edges of said belt to prevent latcral displacement of said belt and batter supply and comprising a rail in parallelism with said belt and having a 1011- gitiulinally disposed groove therein to receive the edge of the belt, said groove having at the base thereof a layer of plate glass or the like.

In testimony whereof, I have-signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. HUSSEY.

Witnesses Fmannmo GILBERT (BAUER, Evnanrr S. EMERY.

is is energized,

fiorreetio n in Letters Patent No. 945,062.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 945,002, granted December 28,

I 1909, upon the application of John M. Hussey, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; for an improvement ih Apparatus for Desiccatirig Eggs, an error appears in theprinted specification requiring correction, as follows: Page 5, line 13 0, the word fiame l ahd that the said Letters Pateht should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office. I v l Signed and sealed this 1st dey of February, D., 1910.

' o. 0. BILLING S,

Acting Commissioner ofi atents.

should read plane;

[SEAL] 

